NORRISTOWN — A former Norristown attorney entered into an open guilty plea in front of Montgomery County Judge William Carpenter Monday morning for selling prescription pills.

Gregory Noonan, 53, formerly of the 100 block Oberlin Terrace in Lansdale, pleaded guilty to two counts possession with intent to deliver, one count of criminal use of a communication facility and one count of dealing in unlawful proceeds.

Noonan will be sentenced following a pre-sentencing investigation report which is done by the adult probation office. The reports often take up to three months to complete. Noonan will be held in prison until sentencing.

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Prosecuting attorney Jason Whalley said the commonwealth will be seeking a state sentence for Noonan.

“It’s extremely disappointing to see an officer of the court engage in this kind of behavior and it proves that no one is above drug dealing. It’s very serious, especially when dealing with prescription pills. It’s a major problem in our community and that’s why we’re seeking a state sentence,” Whalley said.

Noonan’s defense attorney Brad Wertheimer said Noonan knows he’s made some mistakes and will have to pay the consequences.

On his way out of court all Noonan said was “I accept responsibility.”

Noonan is facing a maximum of 47 years in prison. The maximum for each possession with intent to deliver charge is 10 years, a seven year maximum for criminal use of a communication facility and a 20 year maximum for dealing in unlawful proceeds.

The open guilty plea means that Noonan does not have any expectation of sentencing and his sentence will be at the judge’s discretion.

An investigation began in 2013 when Montgomery County Detectives’ Narcotics enforcement team received information that Noonan illegally selling narcotics.

Court documents indicate that on Nov. 23, Noonan called an undercover police officer and left a message saying he wanted to meet him at his office. According to the affidavit of probable cause, he called him one more time at 11:45 a.m. and did not leave a message and at 11:48 a.m. called again and said he needed to meet with him.

The undercover officer was given $2,000 in pre-recorded bills and was also outfitted with a recording device. At the meeting, according to court documents, Noonan sold the undercover officer 179 Oxycodone pills.